This year, Patriots fans have a world-class stadium—complete with luxury suite seats and more than 300 concession stands—to call home. But it wasn’t only the facilities that were upgraded when the new stadium was built. Gillette Field now provides world-class care for patrons who become injured or ill while at a game.

At the ready, behind the bright lights and cheers, is a team of emergency care providers from BWH who work closely with emergency medical providers from Fallon Ambulance Company and the Foxborough Fire Department to ensure Gillette Field patrons do not face unnecessary dangers. This team ensures the crowds have access to life-saving treatment and urgent and emergent care that would have previously meant missing the rest of the game or concert and being shipped off to a hospital.

“The Patriots organization wanted for everything at the new stadium to be of the same caliber, including the medical care,” said Richard Zane, MD, vice chair, Emergency Medicine. “After collecting data during last year’s season, we have upgraded virtually every aspect of medical care at the facility and already have begun receiving complimentary letters from fans.”

As they cheer on Super Bowl hero Tom Brady and his team, local football fans are under the able care of Zane and Charles Pozner, MD, director, Pre-hospital Care, Emergency Medicine, co-medical directors of Gillette Field. Zane and Pozner oversee a rotating team of eight Emergency Department staff, including four nurses, two attending physicians and two residents and a large team of firefighters and paramedics at each game.

“Many of the ED staff members work at mass-gathering events, but this is an ongoing relationship,” explained Pozner. “BWH provides the care for fans at the Patriots’ home games and concerts.”

Added Paula Rock, RN, “Working at the Patriots games has been fun and exciting. Overall, the fans are appreciative that we are there to treat minor injuries and acute issues, doing all we can to help them remain at the game.”